Hello, and welcome to Faith is Hope,
I’m Dave.
The Birth of Forgiveness and Salvation.
I’ve been listening to people talking about how Christmas is a white holiday, a celebration of religious oppression. That Santa (saint Nick) isn’t real, he’s just something, I don’t even know what. It’s just about money, and commercialism. Man, talk about your grinches. Does anyone really think that the birth of Jesus Christ is about the color of someone’s skin? Or about some toy that a child wants? Oh, it is about oppression, but it’s the oppression of sin, and we’re all oppressed by that.
So, let’s set the record straight. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, well there was. And his real name was Saint Nicholas. He was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent. His reputation evolved from his habit of secret gift-giving which gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus. So, Nicholas gave to people he may or may not have known, secretly, without expectation of reward, or recognition. Who only wanted to share the gift of love, God’s love.
People, Christmas is about a gift, one gift, the Father gave to the whole world that night. The birth of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Christmas isn’t about laptops, smartphones, tablets, or anything else that can be bought or sold. It’s about the birth of forgiveness, and salvation for the world, and for each of us. We can either accept God’s gift or refuse his gift, it’s up to us.
Christ’s entire life was about giving, and in the end, he gave his life, so that those who will believe in him will not die, but have life everlasting. Jesus said, I did not come to be served, but to serve. So, are we expecting others to serve us, or are we serving others? Not just to our family and friends, but everyone. Are we giving compassion, mercy, hope, friendship, love, and caring to those who are in need of it? God gave a part of himself, his son, rather than something. Jesus gave a part of himself, his life, rather than something. So, are you giving a part of yourself or something? Think about that for a minute. If it says made in China or batteries are not included, then probably not you.
You know, I think the saddest part of all this, of what these people are feeling is that these people are starving, and they don’t even know it. They have this empty hole deep down inside them. They don’t understand it, so they try to fill it with things and stuff. But God’s love, mercy, and grace can’t be replaced with things and stuff. See, Jesus is sorta like God’s spoon, God is love, and his love is the food our soul’s hunger and thirst for. But without Jesus (the spoon) none of us can sit down at the table and take part in the meal.
I’m gonna share a story with you. It’s called “The Christmas Guest” and it was written by Grandpa Jones.
It happened one day near December’s end, two neighbors called on an old-time friend
And they found his shop so meager and mean, made gay with a thousand bows of green
And Conrad was sittin’ with face ashined, when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said “Oh friends at dawn today, when the cock was crowin’ the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me, and said ‘I’m comin’ your guest to be.’
So I’ve been busy with feet astir and strewin’ my shop with branches of fir
The table is spread and the kettle is shined, and over the rafters, the holly is twined
And Now I’ll wait for my Lord to appear, and listen closely so I will hear His step
As He nears my humble place, and I’ll open the door and look on His face”
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone, for this was the happiest day he’d known
For long since his family had passed away, and Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas day
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest, this Christmas would be the dearest and best
So he listened with only joy in his heart, and with every sound, he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be at his door, like the vision he’d had a few hours before
So he ran to the window after hearin’ a sound, but all he could see on the snow-covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn, and all of his clothes were ragged and worn
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door, and he said “your feet must be frozen and sore. I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that’ll keep you warmer too”
So with a grateful heart, the man went away, but Conrad noticed the time of day
And he wondered what made the Lord so late, and how much longer he’d have to wait
When he heard a knock he ran to the door, but it was only a stranger once more
A bent ol’ lady with a shawl of black, with a bundle of kindlin’ piled on her back
She asked for only a place to rest, but that was reserved for Conrad’s great guest
But her voice seemed to plead “Don’t send me away, let me rest for a while on Christmas day”
So Conrad brewed her a steamin’ cup and told her to sit at the table and sup
But after she left he was filled with dismay, for he saw that the hours were slippin’ away
And the Lord hadn’t come as He said He would, and Conrad felt sure he’d misunderstood
When out of the stillness he heard a cry, “please help me, and tell me where am I!”
So again he opened his friendly door and stood disappointed as twice before
It was only a child who’d wandered away and was lost from her family on Christmas day
Again, Conrad’s heart was heavy and sad, but he knew he should make the little girl glad
So he called her in and he wiped her tears and quieted all her childish fears
Then he led her back to her home once more, but as he entered his own darkened door
He knew that the Lord was not comin’ today, for the hours of Christmas had passed away
So he went to his room and he knelt down to pray, and he said “Dear Lord, why did You delay?
What kept You from comin’ to call on me? for I wanted so much Your Face to see”
When soft in the silence, a voice he heard, “lift up your head, for I kept my word
Three times my shadow crossed your floor, and three times I came to your lonely door
For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet, and I was the woman you gave somethin’ to eat, and I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked and three times I came in, and each time I found the warmth of a friend, of all the gifts love, is the best
And I was honored to be your Christmas guest.”
So what’s the moral of the story? If you ask God into your life, if you invite God into your home, you’ll be amazed at how often he knocks on your door.
So with that, I’ll say;
“God Bless Us, Everyone” and
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good night.”
Hey, I’m Dave – join me next time when I talk about Slavery. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, I’ll see you at the Rest Area.
